Overview

#RateMyProfessors became the hashtag for the crowd-sourced professor review website founded in 1999. Students rate instructors on clarity, helpfulness, easiness, and leave written reviews. By 2023, RateMyProfessors (RMP) had 19M+ ratings across 8,000+ schools, becoming an essential course-selection tool—and source of controversy.

Founding & Early Growth (1999-2010)

1999: John Swapceinski created RateMyProfessors as college senior frustrated by lack of instructor information.

Original features:

• Numerical ratings (1-5): Helpfulness, clarity, easiness
• Written reviews: Anonymous student comments
• School search: Filter by university, department

2005: Acquisition by m Teach (later Viacom) for ~$20M.

By 2010, RMP had 10M+ ratings, dominated professor review space.

Source: RateMyProfessors history, TechCrunch

The “Hot or Not” Chili Pepper (2002-2018)

2002-2018: RMP included “chili pepper” icon (🌶️) for “hot” professors (attractiveness).

Controversy:

• Sexism: Disproportionately awarded to female professors
• Objectification: Reduced instructors to looks
• Bias: Studies showed attractive professors rated higher on teaching quality (halo effect)

July 2018: RMP removed chili pepper after student petition, criticism.

Source: Inside Higher Ed coverage, RMP announcement

Course Selection & Student Strategy (2010-2023)

RMP became mandatory pre-registration ritual:

How students use it:

• Avoid “hard” professors: Prioritize high “easiness” scores
• Read comments: “Lots of homework” vs “Easy A but learn nothing”
• Cross-reference: RMP + syllabus + class schedule optimization

Grade inflation concerns:

• Students flock to easy professors
• Rigorous instructors punished with low ratings
• Departments pressured to inflate grades

Source: Academic studies on RMP impact, student surveys

Accuracy & Bias Debates (2012-2023)

Criticisms of RMP:

Selection bias:

• Only motivated students (very happy or very angry) review
• Silent majority doesn’t participate
• Sample not representative

Demographic biases:

• Women, minorities rated harsher (research confirmed)
• Young, male professors rated higher (attractiveness halo)
• Foreign accents penalized in “clarity” scores

Retaliatory reviews:

• Students angry about grades leave vindictive comments
• Professors can’t respond or remove reviews (only flag inappropriate content)

Academic studies (2015-2020):

• Weak correlation between RMP scores and student learning outcomes
• High easiness ≠ effective teaching

Source: Educational research journals, bias studies

Professor Responses & Controversies (2010-2023)

Some professors embraced RMP:

• Incorporated feedback, adjusted teaching
• Joked about reviews in class

Others condemned it:

• “Popularity contest, not teaching evaluation”
• Lawsuit attempts (all failed, Section 230 protected RMP)
• Calls for removal (universities can’t force RMP to take down)

Fake reviews:

• Professors suspected colleagues, TAs, students posting fake reviews (pro or con)
• RMP moderation limited

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education articles, professor interviews

COVID & Remote Teaching Impact (2020-2021)

Pandemic surge in reviews:

• Students struggling with remote teaching vented on RMP
• Professors unprepared for online = low ratings
• “Turned off camera” became common complaint

New criteria emerged:

• Flexibility, empathy valued
• Tech competence (Zoom, Canvas proficiency)

Source: RMP review trends (2020-2021)

Mobile App & Modernization (2015-2023)

RMP app (iOS/Android, 2015):

• Faster course selection
• Push notifications for new reviews
• Integration with class schedules

2020s features:

• Professor comparison: Side-by-side ratings
• Department averages: Context for individual scores
• Verified student reviews (attempted, limited success)

Source: RMP app updates, feature announcements

Alternatives & Competition (2018-2023)

Competitors:

• Koofers: Exams, flashcards + ratings
• Niche (formerly College Prowler): Campus reviews
• Course reviews (Reddit r/college, Discord servers)

RMP’s moat: Network effects, SEO dominance (top Google result for “[Professor Name] reviews”)

Source: EdTech market analysis

Cultural Impact

RateMyProfessors democratized professor accountability but introduced bias, popularity contests. It shifted power dynamics—students could publicly critique instructors. The site shaped how millions choose courses, for better and worse.

Sources

• RateMyProfessors site history (1999-2023)
• Inside Higher Ed: “Chili pepper removal” (2018)
• Academic research on RMP bias (2012-2020)
• Chronicle of Higher Education: Professor perspectives
• RMP usage statistics